The Katu-Yaryk Pass is one of those places that has a reputation before you arrive, and the reputation is earned. It lies on the track that links the high Ulagan plateau with the deep valley of the Chulyshman River, descending from the plateau edge to the canyon floor in a series of narrow, steep and exposed switchbacks cut into the rock face. Fuel is not available nearby.
This is a track, not a road. The surface is gravel, rock and dirt, narrow in places, with a sheer drop on the outside of many bends, and there is often no room to pass an oncoming vehicle. It is a serious challenge for an adventure motorcycle, and a very bad idea on a road bike or in rain. Ride it slowly, in dry weather, ideally with a companion, and walk the worst corners first if you have doubts. Many riders choose to ride down and decide there whether to return the same way, since the climb back can be just as demanding. Summer and early autumn are the usable season, and the lower valley can be warm while the plateau stays cool.
The region carries a cultural weight that has nothing to do with engineering. The Chulyshman valley is a remote corner of the Altai, home to small communities of Altai and Telengit people who have traditionally herded and hunted here, and reaching the valley floor was for a long time very difficult. The track itself was built to link the plateau and the valley, and it follows an old path used by shepherds and hunters.
The scenery is the reward. Looking down from the top of the descent, you see the deep green canyon of the Chulyshman, with the Akkurum waterfall area and the great cliff walls beyond, while upstream lie the cold, grassy meadows of the Ulagan plateau. Larch forest covers the slopes, and the air smells of pine and cold water.
Bring spare fuel, water, tools and warm clothes, and tell someone your route. Mobile coverage is poor, and recovery would be slow and expensive. Treat the pass as an adventure, not a race.